Latest iPad Air models hit new record low prices

Theverge

The latest iteration of Apple’s iPad Air has seen an unprecedented price reduction across multiple major retailers, with both the 11-inch and 13-inch models now available for $150 off their original price. This discount surpasses previous record lows, including those observed during Amazon Prime Day, making Apple’s popular midrange tablet more accessible than ever.

Consumers can now acquire the M3-powered 11-inch iPad Air with 128GB of storage for $449, a significant drop from its standard $599 price. This offer is broadly available at Amazon, Best Buy, Target, and Walmart. Similarly, the larger 13-inch 128GB model is also discounted by $150, bringing its price down to $649 from $799 at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target.

Positioned squarely in the middle of Apple’s tablet lineup, the iPad Air serves as a compelling bridge between the more basic entry-level iPad and the high-performance iPad Pro. It aims to deliver a balance of portability, power, and advanced features, making it suitable for a wide range of users from students and casual consumers to professionals seeking a versatile mobile workstation.

At its core, the new iPad Air is powered by Apple’s M3 chip, which brings substantial performance enhancements over its predecessors and the standard iPad. This chip enables smoother operation for demanding applications, enhances graphics capabilities, and supports features like dynamic caching for a more fluid user experience. While the top-tier M4-powered iPad Pro remains the most powerful option for highly intensive tasks such as advanced creative work or graphically demanding games, the M3-equipped Air provides ample power for everyday productivity, content consumption, and light creative endeavors.

The iPad Air’s utility is further extended by its compatibility with Apple’s latest accessory ecosystem. It supports both the Apple Pencil USB-C and the more advanced Apple Pencil Pro. The latter offers features designed to enhance creative workflows, including Find My support for easy location tracking and intuitive squeeze gestures that allow users to quickly switch tools or perform actions without lifting the pencil from the screen. Furthermore, the 11-inch iPad Air is compatible with the new Magic Keyboard, which boasts a larger design and a dedicated 14-key function row, transforming the tablet into a more laptop-like experience.

Looking ahead, the iPad Air is poised to gain even more functionality with the upcoming release of iPadOS 26 this fall. This update will introduce “windowed multitasking,” a highly anticipated feature that allows users to run multiple applications in resizable windows, significantly improving the iPad’s capability for complex workflows. Beyond multitasking, the iPad Air will also support Apple Intelligence, the company’s new suite of generative AI features. This integration will provide users with advanced tools for AI-powered writing assistance and sophisticated image editing, further enhancing the device’s utility for both personal and professional tasks.

In summary, the latest iPad Air, with its M3 chip and comprehensive feature set, represents a formidable tablet for a broad audience. The current $150 discount makes it an even more attractive proposition, offering a compelling blend of performance, versatility, and ecosystem integration at a price point that makes premium Apple technology more attainable.